Seeds
Magdalena Big Cheese Seeds, Southwestern Desert Heirloom
$6.99
🌱 Open Pollinated
🧪 Germination Tested
📦 Ships in 1-3 Days
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Magdalena Big Cheese seeds grow a large, flat, buff-tan Cucurbita moschata heirloom for pies, soups, and storage.
🛡️ Vine borer resistance: useful, not absolute. Dense Cucurbita moschata stems may tolerate squash vine borer injury better than many thin-stemmed squash, but resistance does not mean immunity. Inspect stems and vines during borer season. Learn why species matters.
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✅ Germination Promise: if your seeds fail to germinate under proper growing conditions, contact us within one year and we will replace them or refund your purchase. See the details.
📖 Read our complete growing guide for this variety →
Magdalena Big Cheese is a Southwestern heirloom with a large, flat cheese-wheel shape. We offer 10-seed and 20-seed packets for gardeners who want to grow this uncommon variety.
The fruit has a flat, cheese-wheel shape with buff-tan skin and deep ribs. The dense flesh suits pies and soups, and sound, properly cured fruit can be kept for storage. Garden performance varies with heat, soil, water, pollination, pest pressure, and season.
As a Cucurbita moschata, Magdalena Big Cheese has dense stems that may improve tolerance to squash vine borer injury. Resistance does not mean immunity, and no variety guarantees a harvest. Inspect plants during borer season and use locally appropriate pest management.
Variety Details
- Species: Cucurbita moschata. Heirloom, open-pollinated
- Origin: Sonoran Desert, northern Mexico (Magdalena de Kino region)
- Fruit size: Large flat cheese-wheel shape, 10–20+ lbs
- Skin: Buff-tan with deep ribbing
- Flesh: Dense, sweet, deep orange , excellent pie and storage squash
- Days to maturity: ~110 days
- Storage: 4–6+ months cured
- Vine borer resistance: High. Thick-stemmed moschata genetics
- Water: Keep moisture consistent during establishment and fruit set; adjust for rainfall, heat, soil drainage, and plant condition
- Packet options: Choose 10 seeds or 20 seeds for planting
In the Kansas Garden
Grow in full sun and well-drained soil, and give the spreading vines room. Plan 10 to 12 feet per plant. Direct sow after the soil reaches about 65°F, or start indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost and transplant carefully. Mulch to conserve moisture, monitor plant condition during heat, and rotate cucurbits from year to year.
Read the full growing guide for planting dates, spacing, and curing tips.
Why Autumn Prairie Pumpkins
We're a small Kansas seed operation that built its whole catalog around vine borer resistance. Every variety we sell is hand-selected, hand-packed, and shipped from Newton, Kansas. Strong soil builds strong plants, and the right variety makes the whole job easier.
Untreated, open-pollinated heirloom seed. No fungicide coating. Save your own seed from your strongest fruit and grow it again next year.
Will it ripen before frost? Magdalena Big Cheese needs about 110 days from sowing. In a typical Newton, Kansas Zone 6b season the first fall frost arrives between October 10 and 20, so direct sow by about June 13 to finish with a two week cushion. Planting later, or gardening in a different zone? Check your own planting window.
Shipping & Satisfaction
We ship physical products via USPS from Newton, Kansas. Orders typically ship within 1 to 3 business days. Free shipping on seed orders $30+. Coffee ships at the paid rate shown at checkout. Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout.
Seeds: Flat-rate shipping. Ships year-round.
Coffee: Packed fresh in Newton and shipped weekly.
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Growing Tips
Each seed packet includes detailed growing instructions. For additional help, visit our Growing Guides or reach out to us directly.
Grown and Tested in Kansas Zone 6b
Open-Pollinated and Non-GMO Free shipping on seed orders $30+ Family Homestead · Newton, KS
Seed life: 4 to 6 years stored cool, dry and dark. Germination is strongest in the first 2 to 3 years, so sow the freshest packet first and test older seed before you plan a bed around it.
Complete your patch
Most growers plant three or four varieties. Free shipping on seed orders $30+. Coffee ships at the paid rate shown at checkout. Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout.
From the patch to the porch
A little something for your prairie day
Pair your seeds with pumpkin spice coffee for the morning and a 4.5 oz cold process soap bar for the end of the day.
Pumpkin Spice Soap
$7.99
